Upper-Intermediate - Making the Move from China (D2377)

A: 隔壁公司这两天动静挺大的,他们要搬走了?
gébì gōngsī zhèliǎngtiān dòngjìng tǐng dà de, tāmen yào bānzǒu le?
There's been a lot of talk about the company next door recently. Are they moving?
B: 我听隔壁的小张说他们的老总要把公司搬回美国了,这里只留一个小办事处。
wǒ tīng gébì de Xiǎo Zhāng shuō tāmen de lǎozǒng yào bǎ gōngsī bān huí Měiguó le, zhèlǐ zhǐ liú yī gè xiǎo bànshìchù.
I heard from Xiao Zhang next door that their boss is going to move the company to America, and there's only going to be a small office left here.
A: 听说他们老总一直怀着中国梦的,现在怎么说走就走啊?
tīngshuō tāmen lǎozǒng yīzhí huái zhe Zhōngguó mèng de, xiànzài zěnme shuō zǒu jiù zǒu ā?
I've heard that their boss is always praising the Chinese Dream. How can he just move now?
B: 谁知道?不过话又说回来,我觉得他们现在离开中国也是可以理解的。
shéi zhīdào? bùguò huà yòu shuō huílai, wǒ juéde tāmen xiànzài líkāi Zhōngguó yě shì kěyǐ lǐjiě de.
Who knows? But on the other hand, I think it's understandable that they are going to leave China now.
A: 这话怎么说?
zhè huà zěnme shuō?
What do you mean?
B: 你看,现在咱们这儿的环境,一天到晚都是雾霾。大家恨不得戴防毒面具。还有食品质量、交通拥堵等等。那么多问题,谁都受不了啊。
nǐ kàn, xiànzài zánmen zhèr de huánjìng, yītiāndàowǎn dōu shì wùmái. dàjiā hènbude dài fángdú miànjù. háiyǒu shípǐn zhìliàng、 jiāotōng yōngdǔ děngdeng. nàme duō wèntí, shéidōu shòubuliǎo ā.
Look at our environment here. There's smog all day long. Everybody would wear gas masks if they could. Then there's also food quality, transportation blockages and the rest. With so many problems, nobody can take it.
A: 可是,现在中国经济形势还一片大好,继续留下来可能还会有更多的发展空间,现在离开不是太可惜了?
kěshì, xiànzài Zhōngguó jīngjì xíngshì hái yīpiàn dàhǎo, jìxù liú xiàlai kěnéng hái huì yǒu gèngduō de fāzhǎn kōngjiān, xiànzài líkāi bùshì tài kěxī le?
But, now China's economic situation is still really good. If they stayed, there'd still be a lot of space to grow. Wouldn't it be a shame to leave now?
B: 那也不一定。现在中国和以前不一样了:人力成本增加、优惠政策也不多,钱不好赚。
nà yě bù yīdìng. xiànzài Zhōngguó hé yǐqián bù yīyàng le: rénlì chéngběn zēngjiā、 yōuhuì zhèngcè yě bù duō, qián bù hǎo zhuàn.
That's not for sure. China nowadays isn't like it was before. The cost of labor is increasing and there aren't as many government deals. It's not easy to make money.
A: 哎呀,我们的老板不会哪天也来个大迁徙吧?
āiyā, wǒmen de lǎobǎn bùhuì nǎtiān yě lái gè dà qiānxí ba?
Jeez, our boss won't make this big move too, right?
B: 咱还是别想那么多了,过一天是一天吧!
zán háishì bié xiǎng nàme duō le, guò yītiān shì yītiān ba!
Let's not think too much about it. Take one day at a time!
A: 两位美女在嘀咕什么呢?你们的PPT修改完了没有?总监开会还等着用呢!
liǎngwèi měinǚ zài dígu shénme ne? nǐmen de PPT xiūgǎi wán le méiyǒu? zǒngjiān kāihuì hái děngzhe yòng ne!
What are you two ladies tittering about? Have you made the changes to the powerpoint yet? The boss needs it for his meeting!

Key Vocabulary

隔壁 gébì next door
动静 dòngjìng to make noise
搬走 bānzǒu to move away
办事处 bànshìchù office
怀着 huái zhe to carry, hold in one's heart
一天到晚 yītiāndàowǎn all day long
雾霾 wùmái smog
恨不得 hènbude to be itching to
防毒面具 fángdú miànjù gas mask
质量 zhìliàng quality
拥堵 yōngdǔ congestion
受不了 shòubuliǎo to be unable to bear it
中国经济 Zhōngguó jīngjì Chinese economy
形势 xíngshì circumstance, situation
可惜 kěxī it is a pity
不一定 bù yīdìng not for certain
人力 rénlì manpower, labor
成本 chéngběn cost
优惠政策 yōuhuì zhèngcè preferential policy
zhuàn to earn
迁徙 qiānxí to migrate
嘀咕 dígu to chat, titter
修改 xiūgǎi to revise
总监 zǒngjiān boss, chief inspector

Supplementary Vocabulary

办理 bànlǐ to handle
业务 yèwù work, task
白马王子 báimǎwángzǐ knight in shining armor
前景 qiánjǐng prospect
趋势 qūshì trend
生产成本 shēngchǎnchéngběn production cost
消防员 xiāofángyuán fireman, firewoman
规则 guīzé rule, regulation

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